One of the photographs by Jana Islam Almallah.
Doha, Qatar: The popular Photography Journey cultural exchange returns as part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture, an international cultural exchange designed to deepen understanding between nations.
This year, the programme focuses on the theme “The Fading Traditions of Morocco,” taking participants on an exploration of the country’s endangered cultural practices. It is organised in partnership with Tasweer Photo Festival and Generation Amazing Foundation.
The Photography Journey, the longest-running cultural exchange under the Years of Culture initiative, features two exceptional Qatar-based photographers Jana Islam Almallah and Aisha Samir Alabdulla. During this journey, the photographers are visiting key cultural and heritage sites across Morocco, documenting traditional practices and customs that are at risk of disappearing. Through their lens, they aim to raise awareness about the importance of cultural preservation and highlight the value of safeguarding these irreplaceable elements of Morocco’s national identity and human history.
Jana Islam Almallah is a 19-year-old Youth Advocate for the Generation Amazing Foundation and a student of communication at the University of Doha for Science and Technology. Jana is a passionate photographer and a professional football player, focused on championing increasing opportunities for women and girls in sports. She is joined by Aisha Samir Alabdulla, best known for her photographic and documentary work capturing Qatar’s civil servants. Aisha holds a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication from Qatar University and is pursuing an MA in Defense Diplomacy at the Joaan bin Jassim Academy for Defense Studies
Commenting on the journey, Jana said how excited she was about the opportunity to raise the profile of Morocco’s endangered traditions. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help raise awareness of some of Morocco’s most precious cultural traditions and practices, which are at risk of extinction. We want to bring to life these traditions and play a small part, we hope, in preserving them for the next generation.”
Aisha added that she’s thrilled to take part in the journey, “Capturing special moments in time has been a privilege. I appreciate the trust offered to me by the subjects of my work and am eager to be part of such an incredible opportunity.”
Mentoring the participants is Khalifa Al Obaidly, photographer, educator, and Director of Artist in Residence and Tasweer Photo Festival. Al Obaidly shared his passion for the project, saying: “Photography is not just about capturing images; it’s about storytelling, preserving cultural heritage, and conveying emotion. Through this exchange, I hope to inspire these talented photographers to use their art to celebrate cultural heritage, both in Morocco and Qatar, and to create lasting connections between our two nations.”
As the longest-running exchange program in the Years of Culture initiative, the Photography Journey embodies its core mission: bringing the world to Qatar and Qatar to the world. At the end of the year, a selection of photographs from this cultural voyage will be displayed in public exhibitions in both Qatar and Morocco, offering audiences a personal glimpse into Morocco’s fading traditions and the rich heritage shared between these nations.
